Although it is just March, the warm months are approaching quickly, and everybody needs to prepare. The elderly, obese, or people who have respiratory issues are extremely sensitive to the heat. Whether it’s the dry heat of the Southwest, or the humid, moist heat experienced down in the Floridian bay. We also forget that our pets are sensitive to the heat as well and need their owners to take precautions for them to stay cool and healthy during the warmest times of the year. Here are 7 tips on how to care for your pets during the warm summer months:

Don't leave your pet in the car on a warm day. The car's temperature accelerates in heat dangerously quickly, literally to fatal levels within 15 minutes of being in the car.

Don't walk your pet in extreme heat. Dogs' and cats' paws are extremely sensitive to heat and become badly chafed and damaged.

Try to keep your home as cool as possible for yourself and your pet(s), especially for overweight pets and their owners. Circulation of cool air is just as important as cool water for the both of you.

Visiting the vet regularly, especially right before the summer months. Make sure your pets are properly checked for ticks, fleas, and heartworms, even if they are on a year-round prevention medication.

Pets with flat faces, such as Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat because they can't pant as effectively. So, try to keep your flat-faced pets out of the heat as much as possible. Always be aware of your pet and whether they are experiencing a heat stroke.

Do not leave your pet unsupervised around the pool. Gently ease your pet into swimming as not every pet is a good and/or enthusiastic swimmer. Also, make sure they do not drink any of the pool water, as it contains chlorine and other chemicals.

When grooming your pets, trim but never shave. This is especially important in sunny areas because without their fur, the UV rays of the sun will burn their skin and can cause them to overheat. So, just have a few inches trimmed off to will be enough to keep your pet cool in these hot summers. Lastly, brushing a cat's fur "more often than usual" also keeps cats cool and not as hairy during the hot months.